Rhodes Anabaptist-Mennonite Cemetery

Photo taken by Donna Birkey while visiting the cemetery in 2008.

In the beginning of 2017, an association was formed for the preservation of the Anabaptist-Mennonite cemetery in Rhodes, France. It had become overgrown, some gravestones were leaning badly, the back wall had deteriorated, and nameplates were missing.

The land on which the Rhodes cemetery was created belonged to the Pelsy family. Three descendants of Jacob Pelsy had inherited the land: Christian, Jacob and Nicolas, who are buried there with their wives, Catherine Abresol, Madeleine Schertz and Barbe Abresol. They are three of the fifteen children of Christian Pelsy and Catherine Werckler who did not emigrate to America. All three had homes in Rhodes. Among surnames found on the site are: Pelsy, Abresol, Hirschy, Wagler. (Jean-Paul Pelsy)

As one would expect, members of the Pelsy family initiated the preservation work, and after contacting descendants and interested parties in both Europe and the U.S., funds were donated toward the project. During 2017 several goals were met:

Members of the executive and a few volunteers cleared the brush, cut down the trees and straightened the tombstones.

The Rhodes municipality committed to build a parking lot in front of the cemetery with appropriate drainage pipes on the whole width of the site.

A lecture on September 9, 2017 was held in one of the halls at the Parc Animalier Sainte Croix in Rhodes. Mr. Pierre Singer, director of the park, offered free use of the hall. There were about 60 people in attendance, several registering as members of the association, which puts membership at 25.

A Facebook Page has been set up for this project as well.
You can find a location map for this cemetery in our Cemetery section.

Below are photos received showing the cemetery before work began, and work progressing during the year.

This is the meeting place for all descendants of Joseph Schrag and Maria Neuhauser through their five immigrant children: Johannes, Peter, Andrew, Magdalena (Smith), and Barbara (Belsley). Also welcoming cousins interested in Schrock history back to our roots in Wynigen, Switzerland.

If you are interested in joining this group, please use the "Join Group" button on the Facebook group page, answer a simple question and submit your request. We will respond as quickly as possible.